Cup lid with a condiment carrier

ABSTRACT

A beverage lid to be placed over a beverage cup may include a lid cup engaging wall to engage the beverage cup and a lid pivoting wall to pivot with respect to the lid cup engaging wall. The lid pivoting wall may include a dome wall to define a dome cavity for holding a condiment, and the dome wall may pivot from a first position where the user places the condiment in the dome cavity to a second position where the condiment is placed in the beverage cup.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to cup lids and more particularly relates to a disposable cup lid for covering the open end of a beverage cup, where the addition of condiments to the beverage is desirable by the consumer.

BACKGROUND

With the ever increasing demands of our busy lives, more and more people are relying on the convenience of fast food and take-outs. Indeed, the fast food industry has significantly grown over the years, and this in turn has contributed to the growth of the manufacturing of the containers and lids used in holding and containing the food and beverages. One particular area of the fast food industry which has exploded in the recent decades is the sale of coffee, cappuccino, espresso, hot chocolate, tea and the like. These beverages are available both as hot beverages or cold beverages. They are usually sold at cafes, fast food restaurants, and drive-throughs, and are usually available to the consumers as take-away beverages. Beverages of this sort are typically contained in paper or polystyrene cups; and polystyrene plastic disposable cup lids are usually provided for placement over such cups.

Many variations of such disposable cup lids are available in today's market. The disposable cup lids may be relatively flat, or they may be domed or semi-domed. The domed or semi-domed type lids are particularly suitable for beverages such as cappuccinos, hot chocolates, and the like, which typically have some froth or foam at the top of the beverage when it is dispensed into the cup. In the case of cold beverages, the domed or semi-domed type lids provide additional volume for foam or for ice cubes which are floating in the beverage. Whether the lids are flat or domed, the lids are provided with a drinking opening so as to permit the consumer to drink the beverage contained in the cup without having to remove the lid. The opening may be a small drink-through opening that is pre-formed near the peripheral region of the cup lid. In another variation, the drink-through opening is defined by a tearable foldback tab. When the tab is torn and folded back, the drink-through opening is provided in the lid. In yet another variation, the tab may have to be torn off from the lid in order to create the drink-through opening.

A drawback of these conventional disposable cup lids is that the drinking opening provided is not sufficiently large enough for the consumer to add condiments such as sugar, cream, milk and spices into the beverage. The opening is designed to serve solely as a drink-through opening, and thus the size of the opening is typically quite small so as to prevent spills or splashes of the beverage from the cup. If the consumer wishes to add condiments into the beverage, he or she would be required to first remove the lid from the cup, and then add the condiments into the beverage. Since most consumers like to enjoy such beverages with at least the addition of some type of condiments, the conventional disposable cup lids do not allow the consumer to add the condiments to the beverage without having to first remove the lid from the cup. Removal of such disposable cup lid from a cup containing a full amount of beverage is difficult, inconvenient, cumbersome, and possibly dangerous in certain circumstances, especially when the consumer is driving, riding in a vehicle, or walking. The difficulty of removing the cup lid is further exacerbated when the beverage contained within the cup is a hot beverage. The consumer purchased the beverage as a take-out item, and as such, the lid and the container provided need to be durable and spill-resistant so as to permit the consumer to be able to carry the beverage around safely.

SUMMARY

A beverage lid to be placed over a beverage cup may include a lid cup engaging wall to engage the beverage cup and a lid pivoting wall to pivot with respect to the lid cup engaging wall.

The lid pivoting wall may include a dome wall to define a dome cavity for holding a condiment, and the dome wall may pivot from a first position where the user places the condiment in the dome cavity to a second position where the condiment is placed in the beverage cup.

The lid pivoting wall may lock with the lid cup engaging wall by a locking device.

The locking device may include a depression.

The locking device may include a protrusion.

The beverage lid may include a cup engaging channel to engage a lip of the beverage cup.

The beverage lid may include a inward extending lip to engage the beverage cup.

The protrusion may include a locking finger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the beverage lid of the present invention in an open position;

FIG. 2 illustrates the beverage lid of the present invention in a closed position;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the beverage lid of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross section of a top view of the beverage lid of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-section of a top view of the beverage lid of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates the beverage lid 100 detachably connected to the beverage cup 101. The lid 100 alternatively can be used for cups 101 that contain other items, such as french fries, and that the condiment carrier can be used for condiments such as ketchup, mustard, mayo, etc. Although the invention is described in terms of beverage cups, the teachings of the present invention apply equally to these other types of cups.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the beverage lid 100 which may include a lid cup engaging wall 105 which may cooperate with a lid pivoting wall 103. The cup engaging wall 105 may detachably connect with the lid pivoting wall 103 by a first weakened area 121 which may noncontiguously extend around the periphery of the beverage lid 100 and may terminate with a non-weakened area 125. The non-weakened area 125 may allow the lid pivoting wall 103 to pivot between an open and a closed position to allow access to the dome cavity 109 and the beverage cup 101. The lid pivoting wall 103 may be separated from the cup engaging wall 105 along the first weakened area 121 to allow the non-pivoting wall 103 to pivot along the non-weakened area 125 from a substantially horizontal first position as shown in FIG. 2 to a substantially vertical position and to continue to pivot to another substantially horizontal second position being opposed to the horizontal first position as shown in FIG. 1 adjacent to the cup engaging wall 105.

With the lid pivoting wall 103 in the second position, it may be desirable to lock the lid pivoting wall 103 in the second position by activating the locking device 113. The lid cup engaging wall 105 may include the locking device 113 which may include a depression 115 to cooperate with a projection 117 which extends from the lid pivoting wall 103 and which may include locking fingers 119 which may cooperate with the depression 115 by a friction fit.

The beverage lid 100 may be egg shaped in cross-section due to the lid cup engaging wall 105 extending beyond the beverage cup 101 in order to provide for the locking device 113.

FIG. 3 additionally illustrates a second weakened area 123 which may form a drinking aperture 124 being formed when the user presses with sufficient pressure on the second weakened area 123 to cause the second weakened area 123 to detach from the lid cup engaging wall 105.

FIG. 1 additionally illustrates that the lid pivoting wall 103 may include a dome wall 107 which may extend from the lid pivoting wall 103 to define a dome cavity 109 which may include a dome opening 111 to allow access to the dome cavity 109. Condiments such as sugar, cream etc. may be placed in the dome cavity 109 to be added to the beverage.

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the cup 101 and beverage lid 100 which may include a lid cup engaging wall 105 which may cooperate with a lid pivoting wall 103. The cup engaging wall 105 may detachably connect with the lid pivoting wall 103 by a first weakened area 121 (not shown) which may noncontiguously extend around the periphery of the beverage lid 100 and may terminate with a non-weakened area 125 (not shown in FIG. 1). The non-weakened area 125 may allow the lid pivoting wall 103 to pivot between an open and closed position to allow access to the dome cavity 109 and the beverage cup 101. The lid pivoting wall 103 may be separated from the cup engaging wall 105 along the first weakened area 121 to allow the non-pivoting wall 103 to pivot along the non-weakened area 125 from a substantially horizontal first position as shown in FIG. 2 to a substantially vertical position and to continue to pivot to another substantially horizontal second position being opposed to the horizontal first position as shown in FIG. 1 adjacent to the cup engaging wall 105.

With the lid pivoting wall 103 in the second position, it may be desirable to lock the lid pivoting wall 103 in the second position by activating the locking device 113. The lid cup engaging wall 105 may include the locking device 113 which may include a depression 115 to cooperate with a projection 117 which extends from the lid pivoting wall 103 and the lid pivoting wall 103 which may include locking fingers 119 which may cooperate with the depression 115 by a friction fit.

The beverage lid 100 may be egg shaped in cross-section due to the lid cup engaging wall 105 extending beyond the beverage cup 101 in order to provide for the locking device 113.

FIG. 1 additionally illustrates that the lid pivoting wall 103 may include a dome wall 107 which may extend from the lid pivoting wall 103 to define a dome cavity 109 which may include a dome opening 111 to allow access to the dome cavity 109. Condiments such as sugar, cream etc. may be placed in the dome cavity 109 to be added to the beverage.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the cup 101 and beverage lid 100 which may include a lid cup engaging wall 105 which may cooperate with a lid pivoting wall 103. The cup engaging wall 105 may detachably connect with the lid pivoting wall 103 by a first weakened area 121 (not shown) which may noncontiguously extend around the periphery of the beverage lid 100 and may terminate with a non-weakened area 125 (not shown in FIG. 2). The non-weakened area 125 may allow the lid pivoting wall 103 to pivot between an open and closed position to allow access to the dome cavity 109 and the beverage cup 101. The lid pivoting wall 103 may be separated from the cup engaging wall 105 along the first weakened area 121 to allow the non-pivoting wall 103 to pivot along the non-weakened area 125 from a substantially horizontal first position as shown in FIG. 2 to a substantially vertical position and to continue to pivot to another substantially horizontal second position being opposed to the horizontal first position as shown in FIG. 1 adjacent to the cup engaging wall 105.

With the lid pivoting wall 103 in the second position, it may be desirable to lock the lid pivoting wall 103 in the second position by activating the locking device 113. The lid cup engaging wall 105 may include the locking device 113 which may include a depression 115 to cooperate with a projection 117 which extends from the lid pivoting wall 103 and the lid pivoting wall 103 which may include locking fingers 119 which may cooperate with the depression 115 by a friction fit.

The beverage lid 100 may be egg shaped in cross-section due to the lid cup engaging wall 105 extending beyond the beverage cup 101 in order to provide for the locking device 113.

FIG. 2 additionally illustrates that the lid pivoting wall 103 may include a dome wall 107 which may extend from the lid pivoting wall 103 to define a dome cavity 109 which may include a dome opening 111 to allow access to the dome cavity 109. Condiments such as sugar, cream etc. may be placed in the dome cavity 109 to be added to the beverage.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the cup 101 and beverage lid 100 which may include a lid cup engaging wall 105 which may cooperate with a lid pivoting wall 103. The cup engaging wall 105 may detachably connect with the lid pivoting wall 103 by a first weakened area 121 (not shown) which may noncontiguously extend around the periphery of the beverage lid 100 and may terminate with a non-weakened area 125 (not shown in FIG. 2). The non-weakened area 125 may allow the lid pivoting wall 103 to pivot between an open and closed position to allow access to the dome cavity 109 and the beverage cup 101. The lid pivoting wall 103 may be separated from the cup engaging wall 105 along the first weakened area 121 to allow the non-pivoting wall 103 to pivot from a substantially horizontal first position as shown in FIG. 2 to a substantially vertical position and to continue to pivot to another substantially horizontal second position being opposed to the horizontal first position as shown in FIG. 1 adjacent to the cup engaging wall 105.

With the lid pivoting wall 103 in the second position, it may be desirable to lock the lid pivoting wall 103 in the second position by activating the locking device 113. The lid cup engaging wall 105 may include the locking device 113 which may include a depression 115 to cooperate with a projection 117 which extends from the lid pivoting wall 103 and the lid pivoting wall 103 which may include locking fingers 119 which may cooperate with the depression 115 by a friction fit.

The beverage lid 100 may be egg shaped in cross-section due to the lid cup engaging wall 105 extending beyond the beverage cup 101 in order to provide for the locking device 113.

FIG. 2 additionally illustrates that the lid pivoting wall 103 may include a dome wall 107 which may extend from the lid pivoting wall 103 to define a dome cavity 109 which may include a dome opening 111 to allow access to the dome cavity 109. Condiments such as sugar, cream etc. may be placed in the dome cavity 109 to be added to the beverage.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section of a partial portion of the beverage lid 100 of the present invention. More particularly, FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of the lid pivoting wall 103 which may include a lip engaging channel wall 133 which may extend around the lid pivoting wall 103 to engage the peripheral lip (not shown) of the beverage cup 101. The lip engaging channel wall 133 may define a cavity 137 to engage the peripheral lip of the beverage cup 101 and include an opening 139 to allow the peripheral lip to enter and exit (access) the engaging channel wall 133. FIG. 4 additionally illustrates the protrusion 117 to engage the depression 115 (not shown), the locking fingers 119 connected to the protrusion 117 and a lid edge 131 to allow the user to remove the beverage lid 100 from the beverage cup 101. FIG. 4 additionally illustrates a lid retaining lip 141 to bias and retain the beverage cup 101 when the peripheral lip of the beverage cup 101 engages the lip engaging channel wall 133.

FIG. 4 additionally illustrates a shoulder 135 to connect the lip engaging channel 133 with a third horizontal wall 147.

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-section of a partial portion of the beverage lid 100 of the present invention. More particularly, FIG. 5 illustrates a portion of the lid pivoting wall 103 which may include a lip engaging channel wall 133 which may extend around the lid pivoting wall 103 to engage the peripheral lip (not shown) of the beverage cup 101. The lip engaging channel wall 133 may define a cavity 137 to engage the peripheral lip of the beverage cup 101 and may include an opening 139 to allow the peripheral lip to enter and exit (access) the engaging channel wall 133.

FIG. 5 additionally illustrates a lid retaining lip 141 to bias and retain the beverage cup 101 when the peripheral lip of the beverage cup 101 engages the lip engaging channel wall 133.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. 

1) A beverage lid to be placed over a beverage cup, comprising: a lid cup engaging wall to engage the beverage cup; a lid pivoting wall to pivot with respect to the lid cup engaging wall; the lid pivoting wall including a dome wall to define a dome cavity for holding a condiment; wherein the dome wall pivots from a first position where the user places the condiment in the dome cavity to a second position where the condiment is placed in the beverage cup. 2) A beverage lid to be placed over a beverage cup as in claim 1, wherein the lid pivoting wall locks with the lid cup engaging wall by a locking device. 3) A beverage lid to be placed over a beverage cup as in claim 2, wherein the locking device includes a depression. 4) A beverage lid to be placed over a beverage cup as in claim 1, wherein the locking device includes a protrusion. 5) A beverage lid to be placed over a beverage cup as in claim 1, wherein the beverage lid includes a cup engaging channel to engage a lip of the beverage cup. 6) A beverage lid to be placed over a beverage cup as in claim 5, wherein the beverage lid includes a inward extending lip to engage the beverage cup. 7) A beverage lid to be placed over a beverage cup as in claim 4, wherein the protrusion includes a locking finger. 